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Prostate specific antigen, total screen
MessageUse only for screening diagnosis code Z12.5; Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of prostate.
Test Code
SPSA
Alias/See Also
Screening PSA
CPT Codes
G0103
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL collected in a SST (serum seprator-gold top tube)
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma – Li Heparin (PST)
Plasma –EDTA (Lavender)
Plasma –K2-EDTA (Lavender)
Tiger top (SST)
Gold top (SST)
Red top
Plasma –EDTA (Lavender)
Plasma –K2-EDTA (Lavender)
Tiger top (SST)
Gold top (SST)
Red top
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 24 hours at 20-24ºC
Refrigerated: 3 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at 20°C, freeze only once
Refrigerated: 3 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at 20°C, freeze only once
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Samples not labeled with complete first and last name and date of birth.
Grossly hemolyzed
Grossly hemolyzed
Methodology
Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay
Setup Schedule
Sun - Sat
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
Males: < 4.00 ng/mL
Females: No established reference range
Females: No established reference range
Clinical Significance
The screening PSA is created for diagnosis code Z12.5. Medicare limits this test to once every 6 months.
The measurement of total PSA is used as an aid in the detection of prostate cancer in men. The test is further indicated for serial measurement of tPSA to aid in the management of cancer patients.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein having a close structural relationship to the glandular kallikreins. The proteolytic activity of PSA in blood is inhibited by the irreversible formation of complexes with protease inhibitors such as alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and other acute phase proteins. Besides these complexes, about 30 % of the PSA present in blood occurs in the free form, but is proteolytically inactive. Elevated concentrations of PSA in serum are generally indicative of a pathologic condition of the prostate (prostatitis, benign hyperplasia or carcinoma). As PSA is also present in para-urethral and anal glands, as well as in breast tissue or with breast cancer, low levels of PSA can also be detected in sera from women. PSA may still be detectable even after radical prostatectomy.
The main areas in which PSA determinations are employed are the monitoring of progress and efficiency of therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma or receiving hormonal therapy. The steepness of the rate of fall in PSA down to no-longer detectable levels following radiotherapy, hormonal therapy or radical surgical removal of the prostate provides information on the success of therapy. An inflammation or trauma of the prostate (e.g. in cases of urinary retention or following rectal examination, cystoscopy, coloscopy, transurethral biopsy, laser treatment or ergometry) can lead to PSA elevations of varying duration and magnitude.
The measurement of total PSA is used as an aid in the detection of prostate cancer in men. The test is further indicated for serial measurement of tPSA to aid in the management of cancer patients.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein having a close structural relationship to the glandular kallikreins. The proteolytic activity of PSA in blood is inhibited by the irreversible formation of complexes with protease inhibitors such as alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and other acute phase proteins. Besides these complexes, about 30 % of the PSA present in blood occurs in the free form, but is proteolytically inactive. Elevated concentrations of PSA in serum are generally indicative of a pathologic condition of the prostate (prostatitis, benign hyperplasia or carcinoma). As PSA is also present in para-urethral and anal glands, as well as in breast tissue or with breast cancer, low levels of PSA can also be detected in sera from women. PSA may still be detectable even after radical prostatectomy.
The main areas in which PSA determinations are employed are the monitoring of progress and efficiency of therapy in patients with prostate carcinoma or receiving hormonal therapy. The steepness of the rate of fall in PSA down to no-longer detectable levels following radiotherapy, hormonal therapy or radical surgical removal of the prostate provides information on the success of therapy. An inflammation or trauma of the prostate (e.g. in cases of urinary retention or following rectal examination, cystoscopy, coloscopy, transurethral biopsy, laser treatment or ergometry) can lead to PSA elevations of varying duration and magnitude.
Performing Laboratory
Frederick Health Laboratory 400 W 7th Street Frederick, MD. 21701
Last Updated: April 21, 2020
